Top 6 New Bay Area Restaurants

San Francisco is a city where new openings continue at a rate so steady, even those of us who spend most nights dining out, can’t keep up. But if you want to know what’s new, hot and worth visiting, we’ve got these six standouts from upscale to order-at-the-counter fast casual (including one Peninsula destination).

Inspired Thai: NariIt’s a rare hands-on chef who has a Michelin star in two countries (without having a restaurant chain empire), but our own Pim Techamuanvivit does exactly that, splitting her time between SF and the more casual Kin Khao as well as upscale Nahm in Bangkok. Her August newcomer Nari (Thai for “women”) hit SF's Japantown with style, greenery and natural light, designed by Lundberg Design (Mourad, Maum, Hard Water, Maum). The modern Thai menu — with chef de cuisine Meghan Clark and bar manager Megan Daniel-Hoang — is pure Pim: bold and flavorful, showcasing NorCal bounty and innovation with pure Thai flavors. Her version of classic miang (betel leaves) shows this off, filling the leaves with stone fruit, coconut, lemongrass, cured trout roe, makrut lime and cashews. As at Kin Khao, shareable curries also shine, like a vibrant Gaeng Bumbai aubergine (eggplant) curry or juicy Gaeng Rawaeng (whole Cornish game hen in turmeric & lemongrass-scented rawaeng curry) served with pitch-perfect roti bread.

Hip Korean: Um.Ma The bright white and black space of Inner Sunset’s new Um.Ma has greenery dripping down from high ceilings, playful artwork, young staff and an inviting back patio. A welcome change of pace, this was the hip Korean spot missing amid the hundreds of traditional Asian restaurants in the neighborhood. Some of the flavors still need a little help coming together, but a healthy brown rice is being used in kimchi fried rice, while bulgogi prime ribeye runs a tad sweet but is tender, quality beef.

Affordable Filipino: Tselogs Van NessTselogs now has three locations (one in Colma and another in the Tenderloin), but their newest hit the Mission in July. Decor is simple but tasteful and service sweet and effecient. It’s an ideal take-out/home delivery option, too. Sisigsilog (chopped chicken in lemon, soy sauce, onion, jalapeno) is best ordered in-house as it arrives sizzling in a hot skillet. Filipino-style spaghetti — ground beef, tomato sauce, banana ketchup, slices of hot dog, and shredded cheddar cheese — may sound awful but it tastes like childhood: sheer comfort.

Top 6 New Bay Area Restaurants By Virginia Miller on 08/29/2019, updated on 08/29/2019